Texas A&M University-Commerce Department of Music Percussion Methods: MUS 133-001, Spring 2013 Monday & Wednesday, 9:00-9:50 Instructor: Dr. Brian Zator Office #128 Office Phone: 903-886-5299 Office Hours: Tuesday, 10:00-11:00 & 2:30-3:30 E-mail: Brian.Zator@tamuc.edu Purpose: The Percussion Methods Course is designed to introduce music majors to basic techniques, instruments, ideologies, and pedagogical approaches to instruments within the percussion family. Students will gain knowledge of how to play & teach each major instrument that will enable him/her to recognize the positive qualities needed by a successful grade school percussion student. Requirements: Students will be required to attend class regularly due to the course s practical, laboratory approach. A minimal amount of outside reading will be required, but considerable time must be devoted to individual practice. Most equipment will be provided, however, students will assume responsibility for any loss or damage. Refer to the Instrument Contract for more details. Grading: Mid-Term 20% Final Exam 25% Mini-research reports (everyone) 12% (3% each) Performance Exams (wind majors) 33% (10% each) Sight-reading Exams (percussion majors) 33% (11% each) Final Notebook & Concert Critique (wind majors) 10% (5% each) Final Notebook & Extra Research Reports (percussion majors) 10% (5% each) - Mini-research reports: Students will be required to summarize on-line and library research on several topics throughout the semester. Free, 4-month on-line memberships to the Percussive Arts Society (PAS) will be provided to facilitate much of this requirement. - Performance Exams (wind majors) & Sight-reading Exams (percussion majors): Students will have a playing exam on snare drum, mallets & timpani and will consist of performing a short etude for the instructor in a one-on-one setting. - Final Notebook: Students will be required to organize their notes, hand-outs, warm-ups, etc. according to instrument. A three ring binder with dividers should be used to label and organize each major class of instruments. The notebook will be due on the Final Exam date. Additional requirements will be detailed throughout the semester. - Concert Critique (wind majors): Students will be required to attend ONE of the spring percussion ensemble concerts and write a one-page critique (single-spaced, 12-point Times font, 1 margins all the way around). The concerts are on Monday, March 4 th at 7:30 pm and Thursday, April 11 th at 7:30 pm. Critiques are due the Monday after the concert. 1
- Research Reports (percussion majors): Several percussion pedagogy and history topics will be assigned throughout the semester. Materials needed: - Each student will be responsible for purchasing the following: 1. One pair of Innovative Percussion IP-LD (or equivalent) concert snare drum sticks 2. Textbook: Simple Steps to Successful Beginning Percussion by Kennan Wylie 3. On-line download: 2-mallet & 4-mallet Play-Along Exercises by Brian Zator - Each wind major student will have the following equipment checked out to them: 1. Practice pad 2. Practice pad stand 3. Timpani mallets 4. Keyboard mallets 5. Stick pouch Student Learning Objectives: Upon the completion of the Instrumental Methods course sequence (MUS 133: Percussion, Woodwind & Brass), the student will understand and be able to demonstrate the following: 1. Perform at a beginning level on all instruments required in each class. 2. The fingerings of the major woodwind and brass instruments. 3. The stickings and techniques of the major percussion instruments. 4. Discuss the technical aspects of tone production, posture and sound quality on all major instruments. 5. Discuss the major texts used for beginning methods of all instruments. 6. Be able to correctly analyze and diagnose problems associated with someone else playing the major instruments. Music Department Mission Statement: The Music Department of Texas A&M University-Commerce promotes excellence in music through the rigorous study of music history, literature, theory, composition, pedagogy, and the preparation of music performance in applied study and ensembles to meet the highest standards of aesthetic expression. University Policies: Students with Disabilities: The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact: Office of Student Disability Resources and Services; StudentDisabilityServices@tamu-commerce.edu Texas A&M University-Commerce, Gee Library, Room 132 Phone (903) 886-5150 or (903) 886-5835; Fax (903) 468-8148 Student Conduct All students enrolled at the University shall follow the tenets of common decency and acceptable behavior conducive to a positive learning environment (Student s Guide Handbook, Policies and Procedures, Conduct.) 2
SCHEDULE January 14 Introduction: discuss syllabus, requirements, checkout materials, etc. Play: S.D. Technique 16 Snare Drum Technique & Eighth notes Read: pp. ii-vii, Step 1-5, Checkpoint A Play: S.D. Warm-Ups #1-2; Step 3, 5, & Checkpoint A 23 Snare Drum Technique & Sixteenth notes sticking patterns Read: Step 6-9, Checkpoint B Play: S.D. Warm-Ups #1-3; Jeff Queen 10-min Check Patterns: 2-note groupings; Step 7 & 9 28 Snare Drum Double/Triple/Quadruple Strokes Play: S.D. Warm-Ups #1-3; Jeff Queen 10-min Double/Triple/Quadruple; Checkpoint B 30 Snare Drum Open-Stroke Rolls (Rudimental Style) Read: Step 10-13, Checkpoint C Play: S.D. Warm-Ups #5-9; Step 10-13 & Checkpoint C February 4 Bass Drum / Snare Drum Closed/Buzz Rolls (Concert Style) Read: Step 16a / Step 14 Play: Bass Drum Exercise Handouts; Step 16a; S.D. Warm-Ups #1-3 & #5-9; Step 14 6 Snare Drum Accents: Down & Up Strokes Read: Step 15 & 16 Play: S.D. Warm-Ups #1-4 & #10-11; Bachcent; Jeff Queen 10-min 16 th 1 Accent; Step 15 & 16 11 Snare Drum Flams & PAS Rudiments Read: Step 17 & 18 Play: S.D. Warm-Ups #12-13; Step 17 & 18; PAS Rudiments Mini-Research Report Due: Discuss the history and importance of the PAS Rudiments a. Why are rudiments important? b. When and who codified the first rudiments? c. How many rudiments when first developed? d. How many rudiments are there now? e. What are the four categories of rudiments? 13 No Class Wind Ensemble on TMEA Trip 3
Week of February 18 th : Snare Drum performance exam p. 49 18 Timpani General Playing Technique Read: Step 10a & 11a Play: Step 10a & 11a 20 Timpani Tuning & Muffling Read: Step 12a Play: Step 12a 25 Timpani Rolls & Review Technique Read: Step 13a Play: Step 13a; p. 39a Week of February 25 th : Timpani performance exam 27 Triangle & Tambourine Read: Triangle-Step 17a; Tambourine-Step 18a Play: 17a & 18a; Triangle and Tambourine Exercise Handouts March 4 Castanets & Small Wood instruments / Mid-Term Review Read: Castanets & Small Wood instruments Handouts Play: Etude for Small Wooden Instruments (Learn all parts); Review for mid-term 6 Written Mid-Term Exam 11-15 Spring Break 18 Drum-set Read: Step 25a Play: Step 25a 20 World percussion & Steel Drums Read: Misc. Handouts Play: Etude for Latin Instruments (Learn all parts) Mini-Research Report Due: Research and discuss the importance and contributions of these drum-set artists: a. Gene Krupa b. Buddy Rich c. Tony Williams d. Steve Gadd e. Neal Peart 4
25 Drumline Play: TAMU-C Drumline Warm-Ups look at all instruments 8 on a hand Accent-tap 4-Grid 27 Drumline Play: TAMU-C Drumline Warm-Ups look at all instruments 8 on a hand Accent-tap 4-Grid Double/Triple/Quad Chicken and a Roll April 1 Marimba & Xylophone (2 mallets) Read: pp. viii-xv; Step 1a-4a Play: Dr. Zator s Play-along exercises 2-mallet packet (Keys of C, F, Bb, & G): Basics (Scales, Green, Thirds, Arpeggios) ¼=90 playing 1/8 th -notes; Wylie book: Step 3a & 4a 3 Marimba & Xylophone (2 mallets) Read: Step 5a, 6a, & Checkpoint A1 Play: Dr. Zator s Play-along exercises packet (Keys of C, F, Bb, & G): Basics (Scales, Green, Thirds, Arpeggios) ¼=90 playing 1/8 th -notes, Double Stops (1a, 2a, 2b) ¼-80; Wylie book: Step 5a & 6a 8 Vibraphone, Bells & Chimes Read: Step 7a-9a, Checkpoint B1 & C1 Play: Checkpoint B1; p. 38a Mini-Research Report Due: Research and discuss the importance and contributions of these keyboard artists: a. George Hamilton Green b. Clair Omar Musser c. J.C. Deagan d. Keiko Abe e. Leigh Howard Stevens f. Gary Burton 10 Review Mallet instruments, Snare Drum, Timpani, & Drum-set Play: Checkpoint C & C1 (learn all parts; drum-set will be added to each etude. Etude #1 will be in a swing-style) Week of April 15 th : Mallet performance exam p. 49a 5
15 Marimba (4 mallets) Play: Dr. Zator s Play-along exercises 4-mallet packet (Key of C only): Double Verticals: Stationary Intervals pg.1 & Beginners Interval Changes pg. 5 Single Alternating: Stationary Intervals pg.1 & Beginners Interval Changes pg. 5 Single Independent each mallet playing the C scale two octaves (no play-along track needed for this) 17 Cymbals / Resonant Metal instruments Read: Cymbals-Step 15a; Resonant Metal instruments Handouts Play: Step 15a, Cymbals Exercises Handouts 22 Instrument selection & organizing percussion sections Read: Misc. handouts Mini-Research Report Due: 1. Make a list of the top three instrument manufacturers in each of these categories: marimbas, xylophones, vibraphones, snare drums, timpani, marching equipment 2. Make a list of the top five stick & mallet manufacturers 3. Provide web-site addresses for ALL listed companies 24 Care & maintenance Read: Misc. handouts 29 Percussion resources and ensemble rehearsal Read: Misc. handouts May 1 Percussion Literature / Final Exam Review Read: Misc. handouts & PML lists Assignment: Study snare drum, keyboard, timpani, multiple percussion and percussion ensemble lists; Review for Final Exam TBA Written Final Exam cumulative Final Notebooks due at this time 6